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THE MASKS
The costumes for carnival in Bosa are famous for their creativity originality and liberal interpretation.
Without in any way ignoring the traditional aspects of the costumes the people of Bosa freely interpret the essence of the traditional aspects and express their own individuality and creativity..
In ancient times the tradition was to wear one’s jacket inside out, wear one’s hat back to front and like in other Sardinian villages blacken one’s face with burnt cork. The so called s’oltigiu bruzhiadu.
The people in costumes who walk behind the carts beat pot lids (sos kobeltores) and rub stirrups (s’attaidzu) across a rudimentary instrument called sa serraggia.
Still nowadays people in costume crowd the amorphus “miracle procession”. Before the carnival celebrations start the streets of the village centre are crowded with people in costume.
However it is only last days of the carnival that the collective high spirits explode around Gioldzi.
Gioldzi’s destiny is to be burnt at the stake again on the Tuesday before Lent.
Gioldzi which symbolizes the carnival that is coming to its climax is a huge puppet stuffed with straw and rags. Gioldzi has a big barrel for an abdomen and in many respects is similar to a scarecrow (su mulmutone).
During the day s’attittadora and the players who are dressed in black sing songs in a dramatic and comical way announcing Gioldzi’s death.
S’attittadora wears mourning clothes with a corset (s’ishiakka), a skirt (sa bunneddha) and a shawl with fringes (sas randas).That evening many Gioldzi, dressed in white dance acting out the coming end or death of the carnival. Lightning up the night these Gioldzi start the frenetic final throes of the carnival. People dressed as specters and ghosts chase each other through the streets of the village center. All will wait patiently for the next carnival.